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Watertown High to pilot online learning program BY LARAINE WESCHLER REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

WATERTOWN -- The high school will pilot an online learning program next spring to help students recover credits and augment their core curriculum.

The web-based instructional program will replace the in-school alternative program that was discontinued this year and provide enrichment for gifted students.

Students will use the program four days a week for two hours after school, supervised by a teacher and instructors in core subject areas, according to Principal Bridget Carnemolla.

She said purely online courses without a teacher on-site are a waste of money because students who struggle in the regular classroom won't get the help they need sitting alone in front of a computer.

Starting next school year, Carnemolla hopes to purchase 10 seats, which could be increased to 20 after the pilot year. She said the pilot program will cost about $7,500 and serve 10 students seeking credit as well as some students who need targeted intervention in specific areas.

She said she hoped the program would save the district money on tutors.

The program, offered by PLATO Learning, can be modified to fit with Watertown's curriculum.

"They give us something to work with, then we can take it from there and make it our own," Carnemolla said.

She said the program is targeted toward the 16.8 percent of Watertown students who are truant, 15.5 percent who commit serious disciplinary offenses, and 17 percent who don't graduate as well as the 9.5 percent of the student population identified as gifted.

She said it would serve students who need mid-course intervention in specific areas, students who don't perform well in a traditional classroom, but do better in a smaller group, and students who want to explore courses not currently offered at the school.

During a presentation to the Board of Education on Monday, Carnemolla gave examples of Watertown students whom the program will serve.

One is a second-year freshman who faced a tumultuous home situation his first year at Watertown High School. In his second year, he is doing much better, but has to make up lost credits.

Another student has already been at the high school for five years and only has 8.75 credits, compared to 17 credits for a typical senior.

The student dealt with the death of a parent and drug and alcohol abuse at home over the past five years, causing him to miss 100 days of school in one year.

He is now living with another family member, is fully enrolled, is and passing all his courses.

A third student is an honors student who wasn't able to take pre-calculus because of her schedule. She borrowed the text book over the summer and was able to test into calculus this year, but wants to take other math and science courses that aren't offered by the school.

"It's time to look at another way to meet their needs," Carnemolla said.

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Stuck Paying the Bill wrote on Dec 11, 2012 6:49 AM:

" They need to start investigating all the non-residents attending school and not paying tuition. For what ever the reason this issue continues to be ignored by the administrators. It's not fair the Watertown taxpayers have to pick up the tab for these free loaders. "

" This is a Parental issue Not A Tax Payers responsibility. Tax Payers Build, Maintain the Schools Pay the teachers. Let the Parents teach the little darlings at home. They don't care that there is a 6 year wait for senior housing, our leaders are even chasing the geese with dogs and horns for the "little darlings". "

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